Veteran politician faces two challengers in race for the new 25th Senate District

A political veteran and two relative political newcomers are seeking election in California's newly drawn 25th Senate District.

State Sen. Carol Liu, who previous represented the 21st Senate District, is considered the incumbent for the 25th District, which covers foothill communities stretching from Upland, La Verne and Glendora west to Glendale, as well as much of the Angeles National Forest.

Challenging Liu are Democrat Ameenah Fuller, a government health care consultant from Upland, and Republican Gil Gonzales, a spokesman for Vons grocery stores from Pasadena.

Fuller, a member of the California Democratic Party's affirmative action committee, in 2008 unsuccessfully ran for the 31st Senate District, which at the time covered Upland and Rancho Cucamonga. Gonzales has served as legislative director for state Sen. Bob Dutton and in Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa's Office of Economic and Business Policy.

After the June 5 primary election, the top two vote-getters, regardless of party registration, will advance to the November general election, under new election rules passed by voters in 2010.

The district, which has a population of 504,462, has 41.2 percent registered Democrats and 32.5 percent registered Republicans.

Gonzales, the lone Republican candidate, doesn't think that will get in the way of his election bid.

"I'm excited about this newly drawn district," Gonzales said. "What people are looking for right now are people who can get the job done. That's what I'm bringing to the table - solutions, not finger-pointing."

Gonzales said his priorities if elected would be to stop the exodus of jobs from the state by enacting "business-friendly policies" and fixing the public school system.

To turn around the school system, Gonzales said he would stop cutting its funding, but would also make greater use of testing and would emphasize "teacher accountability" and "student accountability."

"I like what Jeb Bush did in Florida," Gonzales said.

Fuller, too, said she would make education a priority if she were elected, calling it the "backbone of the community."

"I want to make sure I expand learning opportunities, as well as increase teacher training," she said.

Fuller also said she would support small businesses in the state, which she said are "crucial to reduce unemployment."

Fuller believes the state should be investing more in solar power by offering credits to homeowners for solar panels.

"We have all this sun, and we need to tap into that with solar energy," Fuller said.

Liu welcomed the chance to represent the eastern Los Angeles County communities included in the 25th district, saying they have the same concerns as the areas she already represents - "public safety, education, quality of life, transportation."

"We want to see the extension of the Gold Line, we want to adequately fund our schools," Liu said. "We have a wonderful opportunity in this district."